FONTANA — No professional driver or rider has ever won more races than Ricky Carmichael in San Bernardino County, although motorcycle rider Matt Mladin’s six victories at Auto Club Speedway is a close second.

During his motocross career, Carmichael was the king of Glen Helen Raceway, winning eight times on the hills in north San Bernardino, minutes from where he’ll be racing today in his new career.

Carmichael has put away his motorcycle in favor of a NASCAR truck.

And the sanctioning body is hoping all the Carmichael fans – those who cheered him to Supercross victories in Anaheim, San Diego and San Francisco – will venture to Fontana to see Carmichael compete in the San Bernardino County 200, the second stop of the Camping World Truck Series.

It’ll be his second outing in the No. 4 Chevrolet owned by Kevin Harvick. In his debut at Daytona last week, Carmichael finished 24th after being collected in a multi-truck crash on lap 48.

“The goal this week is to continue learning. We want to be realistic, and I’m trying to be a sponge – learn as much as I can every lap,”

Carmichael said before Thursday’s practice at the two-mile speedway. “Having a car owner like Kevin is great for me. He’s very critical, but that’s what I need. If everyone sugarcoats everything, I’m not going to learn what I need to be competitive. His advice has been really helpful, and I try to put it into practice as much as I can.

“To go along with his guidance, I need as many laps and as much real-time experience to help me get better each time out.”

Carmichael understands his lack of seat time is a major drawback in racing against veterans such as past champions Mike Skinner, Johnny Benson, Bodine and Hornaday; plus names like Kyle Busch, Mike Bliss and Dennis Setzer.

“I feel fortunate that I got a second chance,” said Carmichael, whose first NASCAR venture was with Ginn Motorsports in 2007. That allowed him to be tutored by Mark Martin in lower-level races, but the opportunity evaporated along with resources at Ginn.

It was a setback very foreign to a successful rider like Carmichael.

Before he stepped away from racing motorcycles in 2007, he had won seven outdoor and eight stadium titles on three different brands. He also knew it was time to move on.

“I knew I had seen my best years,” he said, “so I swallowed my pride. That’s why I made the switch. This (the Harvick deal) was perfect timing and throughout my career, I have made what I thought was the right decision and didn’t look back.

“This has given me the best shot I got to learn and the best chance to become a successful NASCAR driver.”

Harvick believes in his 29-year-old driver, who will drive 14 truck races this year under the Monster energy drink banner. Carmichael was sixth in the Camping World East Series in 2008 while driving for Ken Schrader, posting three top-5 finishes and eight top-10 finishes.

“I believe he will put the same effort toward his stock car career,” said Harvick, who will also drive the truck at selected races this season. “He knows how to race and take care of his equipment.”

Said Carmichael: “I’ve got good equipment; I can’t ever blame it on that.”

And he will have experience atop the pit box with Billy Wilburn as crew chief. Wilburn has called the shots on the Sprint Cup ride for the likes of Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte and David Gilliland, among others.

Carmichael is also cognizant of the No. 4 on his truck. That was the same number run by the late Bobby Hamilton to a truck title and by Carmichael to his many championships on a motorcycle. A year ago, Harvick ran the No. 2 but switched after signing Carmichael.

It also stays in step with Carmichael’s clothing line, No. 4, which was very successful during his previous career.

“There’s a lot of history with that number,” said Carmichael, “it just makes you want to do even better.”

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